Transformational gift to alleviate local health care work force shortages
A new endowment fund to help local students in perpetuity while addressing the health care work force shortage in our area has been created. Tuition costs are a barrier to many people who aspire to work in the health care field. The Allied Health Scholarship Endowment will benefit future allied health professionals including medical and dental assistants, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomists, paramedics and emergency service professionals (EMS).
The endowment was established with a $400,000 gift made by the Earth and Humanity Foundation to the Ashland Community Health Foundation (ACHF). ACHF will manage the endowment and award scholarships, beginning with upcoming school terms.
ACHF has administered nursing scholarships for over 20 years and had identified a need to support aspiring allied health providers, including EMS professionals. The Earth and Humanity Foundation stepped up to create the Allied Health Scholarship Endowment Fund.
This endowment fund ensures that resources will be here for students in our community in perpetuity. Scholarships will benefit local students pursuing entry-level medical careers and will help fill open positions in our hospitals, clinics, and emergency services.
The Earth and Humanity Foundation shared their inspiration for establishing this endowment was to help alleviate the shortage of health care workers in our valley and our nation, which was exacerbated by the pandemic, and felt ACHF would be a good steward for these scholarships.
ACHF is grateful the Earth and Humanity Foundation has invested such a generous gift with the foundation. The Allied Health Scholarship Endowment will complement ACHF’s long-standing endowment to support local nursing students. The William G. and Ruth T. Evans Endowed Nursing Scholarship, established in 2002, has awarded more than $1.3 million to future Rogue Valley nurses.
Together, these two endowments will help build a pipeline for future local caregivers for years to come. Transformational gifts such as this expand our foundation’s reach and remove barriers for people pursuing careers in health care.
Students enrolled in these programs who are interested in applying for a scholarship can find more information about eligibility and application requirements at achfoundation.org/apply.
For additional information about funds at ACHF, contact Executive Director, Stephanie Roland, at 541-482-0362 x2.
